---
I woke up to the soft sound of the wind tapping against the window. The morning light was filtered by thick velvet curtains, but the unease in the air was thicker than the fabric.
Raiden was gone again.
The note was the same:
"Stay. Don't leave."
I hated that I obeyed.
I hated that he had me wrapped around his finger without even trying.
---
Afternoon – Wolfe Manor, Balcony
The estate looked different now, like the walls were closing in. I wasn't just in Raiden's world anymore. I was part of it. And no matter how much I tried to convince myself I was still in control, I wasn't.
Not anymore.
---
Two Days Later – Raiden's Office
I was no longer the quiet, frightened girl who had arrived at Wolfe Manor.
I was his equal, his shadow, moving between dangerous games that I didn't fully understand but was becoming part of nonetheless.
And Raiden?
He was more than just a man. He was a force of nature, both the storm and the calm eye in the middle of it.
But every storm has its end.
---
That Evening – The Conversation
I couldn't wait any longer. I needed answers. The air was thick with tension—something was coming, and I wasn't prepared for it.
Raiden was sitting at the desk, going through papers. His suit jacket was discarded, sleeves rolled up. His messy hair falling over his forehead made him look like something I could hold onto, even if I knew I shouldn't.
"Raiden."
He didn't look up, didn't pause his work.
"You're hiding something from me."
He finally looked at me, eyes cold but never losing that dangerous allure. "What do you want to know, Aria?"
I couldn't be scared anymore. Not by him, not by this world.
"Everything. Tell me everything about Giovanni, about the war, about us."
---
Raiden stood up, pushed the chair back with a groan.
"The truth is," he said, voice low but steady, "you were never meant to be part of this."
I clenched my fists. "Then why bring me here?"
His jaw tightened. "Because you are mine. You were always meant to be mine."
---
Midnight – Raiden's Bedroom
The darkness wrapped around us like an embrace. The only light came from the dim moonlight streaming through the curtains.
He didn't touch me at first. Not physically, but emotionally. His presence filled the room.
"You don't know what you're getting into," he whispered.
I pressed my palm against his chest, feeling the beat of his heart. "I know more than you think."
His hand moved to my waist, pulling me closer until our lips met, soft at first. Then it turned hungry, desperate.
"I'll make you regret it," he whispered between kisses.
But I didn't regret it. Not then. Not ever.
---
Two Days Later – A Deal With The Devil
Raiden's empire wasn't built just on blood and betrayal. It was built on deals—deals he always won. But that night, he was taking a risk.
The Russians had agreed to meet, to negotiate the terms of their alliance with Raiden's family. But they didn't trust him. Not really.
I could feel the tension in the air. The silence was too thick, the room too quiet. Men who lived and died by violence now sat at a table, pretending to be civil.
"Aria."
Raiden's voice was low, almost imperceptible.
I turned to him, sensing something was wrong.
He squeezed my hand. "If anything happens, stay back."
"What do you mean?"
But I didn't have time to question him before the door opened, and the Russians walked in.
They weren't here for a peaceful meeting. They were here to claim what Raiden had been protecting.
---
End of Chapter 22